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Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas
Baa Atoll, Maldives · Anantara · High Luxury
On Kihavah Huravalhi island inside the UNESCO Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve, Anantara Kihavah claims two world firsts: the Maldives' only overwater astronomical observatory with in-villa telescopes, and the world's first underwater wine cellar — inside the SEA restaurant, which descends below the lagoon for dining surrounded by reef. The island sits a 10-minute dhoni ride from Hanifaru Bay, one of the world's great manta ray aggregation sites.
- 80 rooms
- Opened 2011
About Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas
- The SEA restaurant at Kihavah houses the world's first underwater wine cellar — 380 labels from 20 countries stored and served below the lagoon — making it the only place globally where guests select a bottle while already submerged.
- Kihavah's overwater Sky Observatory is the Maldives' only such facility: a dedicated astro-deck with resident-guided stargazing and in-villa telescopes, a combination absent from any other Maldivian resort.
- The island is inside Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and ten minutes by dhoni from Hanifaru Bay, where plankton-rich upwellings concentrate hundreds of reef manta rays in feeding frenzies from May to November.
History
On Kihavah Huravalhi island in UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Baa Atoll. The over-water Sky Observatory has Anantara's signature in-villa telescopes.
The setting
6 km from Kendhoo Island.
Restaurants and bars
- SEA — Restaurant · underwater caviar restaurant
- SKY Bar — Bar
- FIRE — Restaurant
- SPICE — Restaurant
- Manzaru — Restaurant
- Plates — Restaurant
Experiences
- Underwater dining at SEA — Underwater caviar restaurant with an award-winning wine cellar; house reef marine life seen by day, nocturnal predators at dinner.
- SKY Over Water Observatory — Overwater observatory, described as the Maldives' only one, with stargazing through the Indian Ocean's most powerful telescope.
- Coral Adoption Programme — Guests plant coral in the resort's reef nursery, adopt it, and follow its progress with photo updates and return visits.
- Overwater spa — Spa over the water where marine life glides beneath the treatment bed.
- Snorkelling with manta rays at Hanifaru Bay — Snorkelling with manta rays at Hanifaru Bay, which hosts the world's largest gatherings of manta rays.
- Turtle Quest — Snorkelling experience with turtles, listed among nearby explorations.
Amenities
- Spa
- Pool
- Private pool
- Sauna
- Hot tub
- Fitness center
- Tennis
- Private beach
- Wine cellar
- Kids club
Awards
- Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star (2026)
- Condé Nast Traveller Readers' Choice Awards (2025)
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